John Waters, the legendary filmmaker often referred to as the “Pope of Trash,” is bringing his outrageous cinematic world to life in a new way. The 79-year-old director, author and provocateur will narrate The John Waters Screenplay Collection, a new audio project from Macmillan Audio, set for release on Oct. 21.
The collection will feature full readings of several of Waters’ most celebrated screenplays, including cult classics Multiple Maniacs (1970), Pink Flamingos (1972), Female Trouble (1974), Desperate Living (1977), and his mainstream breakout hit Hairspray (1988). Also included is Flamingoes Forever, a never-produced sequel to Pink Flamingos. In a twist only Waters could deliver, he will voice not just the narration but every character in the scripts.
“Finally I get the opportunity no other film director would want; to go over the top of ‘line readings,’ beyond multiple-motion-picture-disorder into a new dimension of celluloid insanity, and perform every single role in my movies out loud for your twisted enjoyment,” Waters said in a statement. “That’s right, from Divine right on down to the filthiest day player, I am now, for the first time, the entire cast of Multiple Maniacs! Pink Flamingos! Female Trouble! Desperate Living! Hairspray! Flamingos Forever!”
Macmillan Audio describes the project as “delightfully trashy, wonderfully frenetic and audaciously edgy,” promising fans an immersive experience that captures the chaos, camp, and wit that have defined Waters’ career. The publisher calls the project “aural anarchy” and “cinematic schizophrenia,” leaving it up to listeners to decide which label fits best.
Waters’ decision to take on the voices of his entire cast—ranging from drag icon Divine to the most outrageous minor characters—adds a new layer to his boundary-pushing legacy. Known for elevating so-called bad taste into high art, Waters has always blurred the lines between cinema, performance, and subversion.
The Baltimore native is no stranger to storytelling beyond film. His memoirs Carsick (2014) and Mr. Know-It-All (2019) both earned Grammy nominations for their audiobook editions. He has also published the novel Liarmouth (2022) and is known for his live spoken-word tours, including This Filthy World and A John Waters Christmas. The new collection, however, marks the first time he has performed his iconic screenplays in full.
Waters’ films, once dismissed as shocking or obscene, are now celebrated as cornerstones of queer cinema and cult culture. Hairspray went on to inspire a Tony-winning Broadway musical and a hit film adaptation, while Pink Flamingos remains a transgressive touchstone, notorious for its gleeful boundary-breaking.
For LGBTQ+ audiences especially, Waters’ work has always been more than just camp—it’s a rallying cry for outsiders, rebels and the gloriously strange. His new audio project gives fans another chance to revel in his uniquely filthy vision, this time with his voice guiding them through every outrageous twist.
The John Waters Screenplay Collection will be available for preorder through major audiobook retailers ahead of its Oct. 21 release.
